Turbine-engine.



E. ANDERSON.

TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLICATION men OCT. 8. 1912.

1 ,208,888 Patented Dec. 19,1916.

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E. ANDERSON.

TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8, 1912.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

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EMIL ANDERSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE UNIVERSAL TURBINECOMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEl/V JERSEY, A CQRPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TURBINE-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application filed October 8, 1912. Serial No. 724,516.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTurbine-Engines, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to turbine engines such as are driven by a motivefluid and particularly to such as are driven by an expansible fluid. Itsobject is to provide an apparatus of simple construction which iscapable of developing its power efliciently.

I will describe my invention in the following specification and pointout the novel features in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of aturbine which embodiesmy invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of thesame apparatus with a part of its casing broken away and with some ofits parts shown in section. A portion of the rotor is shown on anenlarged scale in sectional elevation in Fig. 3, the section in thisfigure being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. p

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

1O designates an annular frame upon which the other parts of theapparatus are supported. This is open at the bottom as at 11 so that theexhaust motive fluid may pass out through it and through the base uponwhich it stands, to the air or to a condenser. To the sides of thisannular frame are fastened the plates 12 and 13, each of which isprovided with a stufling box, as at 14, and supports bearings 15 for therotor shaft 20. The side plate 12 is constructed to form an annularmotive fluid chest 16 with which a supply pipe 17 is connected, and theside plate 13 forms a similar chest 18 with which a supply pipe 19 isconnected.

The rotor comprises a hub 21 mounted upon the shaft 20 and from this hubextends aflange 22, the outer periphery of which forms a rim 23 Oneither or both sides of this flange are secured rotor rings which willnow be described. Each rotor ring, in the particular construction shownin the drawings, comprises a pair of flat annular side plates 24, 25between which are a plurality of sheet metal blades 26. These arepreferably of corrugated form with the corrugations at an oblique angleto the radii of the rings, as is shown in Fig. 2. These divide the spacebetween the plates 24, 25 into a plurality of parallel wavy passages orchannels. Between these blades are spacing blocks 27 of some such shapeas that shown in Fig. 2, the sides of which are shaped to fit thecontour of the blades. Transverse deflector blades 28 are also providednear the periphery of the rotor ring. These are preferably set intogrooves cut transversely through the annular plates 24, 25 and theblades 26. The spacing blocks transversely divide the space between theplates 24, 25 into a plurality of compartments, open both inwardly andoutwardly.

Two rotor rings may be provided on each rotor as shown. One of these hasthe spacing blocks inclined to the radii in one direction and in theother they are inclined in the opposite direction (shown at 29, Fig. 2)and the corrugations of the spacing blades are also inclined oppositely.This of course is for a reversibleengine, but when the engine is notreversible only one rotor ring is required, although where more power isrequired, two rotor rings of like form are used.

Aflixed to the body of the motive fluid chest 16 are a plurality ofhollow nozzlecasings 30, open toward the center of the engine, whichplaced end to end form a continuous ring. The outer ends of thesecasings together form a continuous flange 31 which is adjacent to theside of the rotor ring plate 24. A shoulder 32 is formed at the base ofthis flange, which shoulder lies directly inside of the inner edge ofthe plate 24. Over the open sides of these casings are cover plates 33.

34 designates the nozzle-blocks and 35 the nozzle-blades which extendfrom and are preferably an intrinsic part of the blocks. A plurality ofthese nozzle-members,- blocks and blades-are set into the outer side ofthe casings 30 and securely held by. these casings and their coverplates. These form expansion nozzles from the inside, of the casings 30to the outer periphery thereof which are situated directly inside of theinner periphery of the open part of the rotor ring. The ends of eachcasing 30 are their respective nozzle-chambers.

also constructed to form the outer walls of I the first and last ofthese expansion nozzles. Each casing, then, with its cover plate, formsa chamber for motive fluid, with expansion nozzles leading outwardlytherefrom at angles oblique to the radii of the rotor ring. Each ofthese chambers is provided with a port 86 which corresponds with asimilar port in the side of the annular chest 16, which is controlled bya valve 37 which may be actuated by a handle 38 outside of the engine.Not only is there a separate valve controlled port to each of the nozzlecasing chambers, but these separate valves are so arranged that they maybe independently actuated. A similar set of nozzle casings is providedon the other side of the rotor, aflixed to the body of the .annularmotive fluid chest 18, each of which forms a chamber having a valvecontrolled port between it and the adjacent motive fluid chest. In thedrawings, the handles by means of which the valves on this side of theengine are moved are designated bythe reference numeral 39. Of course ifthe engine is a reversible one the expansion nozzles on this other sideof the rotor are inclined in the opposite direction from those firstdescribed.

The motive fluid is admitted through the supply pipe 17 into the annularchest 16 and if any of the valves 37 are open, into From thence itpasses through the expansion nozzles into and through the adjacent rotorring. In the expansion nozzles the energy pf the motive fluid is changedfrom pressure to velocity. As this motive fluid passes through the spacebetween the side plates 24;, 25 of the rotor-ring it impinges againstthe spacing blocks 27 and is deflected by them. Both of these actionsresult in a tendency to drive the rotor. Some of the fluid also impingesagainst and is deflected by the transverse blades 28 and this alsodrives the rotor. This driving effect is produced in each of the rotorcompartments as they successively pass by the nozzles from which themotive fluid is being emitted. From the rotor the fluid passes into thelarge annular space 40 inside of the engine casing and out through theexhaust passage 11. The spacing blocks are shown so shaped that thegreater part of their deflecting effect is accomplished during thelatter part of the flow of the fluid through the compartments. They arealso so proportioned as to form paths of increasing capacity to providefor expansion of the fluid.

The addition of blades between the side plates of the rotor ringincreases the efliciency of the apparatus because of the greatlyenlarged surfaces over which the fluid passes, being itself retarded byfricthe rotor ring.

rotor. But in the preferred form of myinvention these blades arecorrugated and so placed in relation to one another as to divide thespace between the side plates of the rotor ring into a plurality ofparallel wave-like channels with the waves substantially transverse tothe flow of the fluid through each compartment. The section shownin Fig.3 is taken on a line which corresponds with the general direction of theflow of the motive fluid through one of the compartments. From this viewit may be seen that the motive fluid is deflected from side to side bythe corrugations, For example, as the fluid enters the rotor ring fromthe inside, as viewed in Fig. 8 it is first deflected to the right,thereby giving up some of its velocity and developing an iinpellingforce; then to the left when the same functions are performed, and so onto the outer periphery of the rotor ring without its flow being at anypoint restricted. These corrugated blades are substantially at rightangles to the deflecting surfaces of the members 27. The passage betweenadjacent blades through the first turn is an effort stage, that throughthe next turn another effort stage, and so on,- these consecutive eflortstages being of successively increasing capacity. The motive fluidpasses through them all without in terruption and has a tendency in eachportion of its path to impel the rotor.

This engine is effectively operative with but one nozzle, but I haveshown a plurality of nozzles leading from each of the nozzle chambers.Then all the valves 37 for each of the nozzle chambers but one areclosed, the fluid will pass from this one through all of its nozzlesinto and through When it is desired to clevelop more power anotherorothers of the valves 37 are opened. When all these valves are opened,the inlet nozzles cover practically all of the inner periphery of therotor ring and the proportion of the periphery loo which they do covermay be increased by 7 sides of the rotor may be opened to obtainconditions for developing more power.

7 This construction not only provides a simple and compact apparatus bymeans of which an enormous amount of power may be developed with acomparatively small machine, but on account of the novel arrangement ofthe active fluid passages, power is developed with a greater efliciencythan has heretofore been possible with motors driven by eXpansiblemotive fluid.

What I claim is:

1. A turbineengine comprising a rotor ring constructed to have anannular space, a plurality of members oblique to the radii of the ringat equal intervals dividing said space into a plurality of compartments,and a plurality of wavy rotor blades normal to said dividing members ineach of said compartments.

2. A turbine engine comprising a rotor constructed to form a pluralityof transverse fluid passages, means for passing motive fluid throughsaid passages, and walls for said passages, opposite walls of eachpassage forming partitions between the passages and substantiallyparallel wavy walls at substantiall} right angles to said opposite'wallsfor deflecting the fluid in a zigzag manner.

3. A turbine engine comprising a rotor constructed to form a pluralityof transversefluid passages, means for passing motive fluid through saidpassages, and walls for said passages, opposite walls of each passageforming partitions between the passages, and a plurality of other wallsparallel to one another and at substantially right angles to saidopposite walls dividing each passage into a plurality of parallel wavychannels for deflecting the fluid in a zig-zag manner.

i. A turbine engine comprising a rotor constructed to form a pluralityof wavy unrestricted paths extending transversely through said rotor,with the waves substantially transverse to the path of movement of thefluid whereby the fluid is deflected in a zig-zag manner as it passesthrough the rotor, and means for passing motive fluid through saidpassages.

5. A turbine engine comprising a rotor having a plurality ofcompartments open to opposite ends of one of their transversedimensions, means for passing motive fluid through the compartments,walls for said compartments, opposite walls of each compartment being ofsuch form as to deflect the motive fluid, and other walls atsubstantially right angles to said opposite walls, having substantiallyparallel wavy surfaces for deflecting the fluid in a zig-zag manner.

6. A turbine engine comprising a rotor having a plurality ofcompartments open to opposite ends 01" one of their transversedimensions, means for passing motive fluid through the compartments,walls for said compartments, opposite walls of each compartment being ofsuch form as to deflect the motive fluid, and to form a path ofprogressively increasing capacity for the fluid and other Walls atsubstantiallyv right angles to said opposite walls having substantiallyparallel wavy surfaces dividing each compartment into a plurality ofwave-like unrestricted channels for deflecting the fluid in a zig-zagmanner.

7. A turbine engine comprising a rotor, and means for passing motivefluid through the rotor, said rotor being constructed with a pluralityof unrestricted transverse passages for the fluid, each of said passagesforming a plurality of consecutive effort stages.

8. A turbine engine comprising a rotor, and means for passing motivefluid through the rotor, said rotor being constructed with a pluralityof unrestricted transverse passages for the fluid, each of said passagesforming a plurality of consecutive efl'o-rt stages of progressivelyincreasing capacities.

9. A turbine engine comprising a rotor having a plurality ofcompartments open to opposite ends of one of their transverse dimensionsand means for passing motive fluid thrlough the compartments, each ofsaid compartments having a plurality of unrestricted passages ofprogressively increasing capacities, each of said passages forming aplurality of consecutive eflort stages of successively increasingcapacities.

10. A turbine engine comprising a rotor ring constructed to form anannular space, a plurality of members extending through said rotor ringdividing said space into a plurality of open ended compartments, aplurality of substantially parallel blades having unbroken surfacesnormal to said dividing members, subdividing each of said compartmentsinto a plurality of parallel passages, and means for directing motivefluid into said passages.

11. A turbine engine comprising an annular rotor ring open transversely,means for passing motive fluid through said ring, and parallelcorrugated blades in said ring dividing it into a plurality ofunrestricted wavy channels whereby the fluid is deflected from side toside as it passes transversely through the ring.

12. A turbine engine comprising an annular rotor ring open to itsperipheries, a nozisle-casingadjacent the inner periphery of said ringconstructed to form an expansion nozzle for motive fluid oblique to theradii of the rotor ring; and parallel corrugated blades in said ringdividing it into a plurality of unrestricted wavy channels with thewaves substantially transverse to the path of movement of the fluidwhereby the fluid is deflected from side to side as it passes throughthe ring.

13. A turbine engine comprising an annular rotor ring open transversely,members dividing the ring transversely into a plurality of compartments,corrugated blades in said ring dividing its compartments into aplurality of parallel Wavy channels, and means for passing motive fluidthrough said compartments and channels.

let. A turbine engine comprising an annular rotor ring open to itsperipheries, curved deflecting members extending from the inner to theouter periphery of the ring dividing said ring transversely intoa'plurality of compartments, corrugated blades in said ring dividing itscompartments into a plurality of parallel Wavy channels, and means forpassing motive fluid through said compartments and channels.

15. A turbine engine comprising an annular rotor ring open to itsperipheries, members extending from the inner to the outer periphery ofthe ring dividing said ring transversely into a plurality ofcompartments, transverse deflector blades aflixed to the ring near itsouter periphery and intermediate said divided members, means for passingmotive fluid through said compartments and corrugated blades in saidring dividing its compartments into a plurality of parallel Wavychannels whereby the fluid is deflected from side to side as it passesthrough the ring.

16. A turbine engine comprising an annular rotor ring open to itsperipheries, curved deflecting members extending from the inner to theouter periphery of the ring, dividing said ring transversely into aplurality of compartments, corrugated blades in said. ring dividing itscompartments into a plurality of Wavy channels With the Wavessubstantially transverse to the path of movement of the fluid wherebythe fluid-is deflected from side to side as it passes through the ring,and means for passing motive fluid through said compartments and channels from the inside of the rin 17. A turbine engine comprising anannular rotor ring open to its peripheries, curved deflecting membersextending from the inner to the outer periphery of the ring dividingsaid ring transversely into a plurality of compartments, transversedeflector blades aflixed to the ring near its outer periphery andintermediate said curved members, corrugated blades in said ringdividing its compartments into a plurality of parallel Wavy channelswith the Waves substantially transverse to the path of movement of thefluid whereby the fluid is deflected from side to side as it passesthrough the ring, and a nozzle-casing adjacent the inner periphery ofsaid ring constructed to form an expansion nozzle oblique to the radiiof the rotor ring.

18. A reversible turbine engine comprising a pair of annular rotor ringsopen to their peripheries arranged side by side, a plurality ofnozzle-casings adjacent the inner periphery of one of said rings andcovering said periphery, another plurality of nozzle-casings adjacentthe inner periphery of the other ring and covering its inner periphery,each of said casings being constructed to form -a plurality of nozzlesoblique to the radii of the rotor rings, the nozzles of the casingsadjacent the periphery of one of said rings being inclined in a commonangular direction, and the nozzles in the casings adjacent the otherring being inclined in a common opposite angular direction, a valve foreach of the nozzle casings and independent means for actuating saidvalves. p

19. A turbine engine comprising a rotor ring constructed to form anannular space open to the peripheries of said ring, members extendingthrough said rotor ring from one periphery to the other dividing saidspace transversely into a. plurality of open ended compartments,substantially parallel blades in said ring dividing its compartmentsinto a plurality of channels, and a nozzle adjacent a periphery of saidring and oblique thereto for passing motive fluid through said passages.

20. A turbine engine comprising an annular rotor ring open to itsperipheries, members dividing the ring transversely into a plurality ofcompartments and blades in said ring dividing its compartments into aplurality of parallel channels, a plurality of nozzle-casings adjacent aperiphery of said ring, each of said casings being constructed to forman expansion nozzle oblique to the radii of the rotor ring, and meansassociated with each nozzle-casing for controlling the admission ofmotive fluid through its nozzle to the rotor.

21. A turbine engine comprising an annular rotor ring open to itsperipheries, curved deflecting members extending from the in nor to theouter periphery of the ring dividing said ring transversely into aplurality of compartments and corrugated blades in said ring dividingits compartments into a plurality of parallel Wavy channels, a pluralityof nozzle-casings adjacent the inner periphery of said ring, each ofsaid casings being constructed to form a plurality of expansion nozzlesoblique to the radii of the rotor ring and means associated With eachnozzle-casing for controlling the admission of motive fluid through itsnozzles to the rotor.

22. A turbine engine comprising an annular rotor ring open to itsperipheries, curved deflecting members extending from the inner to theouter periphery of the ring dividing said ring transversely into aplurality of compartments, transverse deflector blades allixed to thering near its outer periphery and intermediate said curved members, aplurality of nozzle-casings adjacent the inner periphery of said ringand covermg said periphery, each of said casings be- V tending itscompartments into a plurality of parallel \vavy channels whereby thefluid is deflect-ed from side to side as it passes through the rlng.

23. A turbine engine comprising a pair of annular rotor rings open totheir peripheries arranged side by side, members in said rings dividingthem transversely into a plurality of compartments, blades in each ringdividing its compartments into a plurality of parallel channels; and aplurality of nozzle-casings adjacent the inner periphery of each ring,each of said casings being constructed to form an expansion nozzleoblique to the radii of the rotor rings and means associated With eachnozzle-casing for controlling the admission of motive fluid through itsnozzle to the rotor.

24:. A reversible turbine engine comprising a pair of annular rotorrings open to their peripheries arranged side by side, curved deflectingmembers in each ring exfrom the inner to the outer peripheries of therings dividing the rings transversely into a plurality of compartments,blades in said rings dividing its compartments into a plurality ofparallel channels; a plurality of nozzle-casings adjacent the innerperiphery of each ring, each of said casings being constructed to form aplurality of expansion nozzles oblique to the radii of the rotor rings,a valve associated with each nozzle-casing for controlling the admissionof motive fluid through its 11ozzles to the rotor rings, and independentmeans for actuating said valves.

25. A reversible turbine engine comprising a pair of annular rotor ringsopen to their peripheries arranged side by side, curved deflectingmembers in each of said rings extending from the inner to the outerperipheries of the rings dividing the rings transversely into aplurality of compartments, transverse deflector blades afiixed to therings near the outer peripheries thereof and intermediate said curvedmembers, corrugated blades in said rings dividing their compartmentsinto a plurality of parallel Wavy channels With the Waves substantiallytransverse to the path of move ment of the fluid through the comparments; a plurality of nozzle-casings adjacent the inner peripheries ofsaid rings, each of said casings being constructed to form a pluralityof expansion nozzles oblique to the radii of the rotor rings, thenozzles in' the casings adjacent one of said rings being inclined incommon angular direction and the nozzles in the casings opposite theother ring being inclined in an opposite common angular direction, avalve for each nozzlecasing for controlling the admission of motivefluid through its nozzles to the rotor and independent means formanually actuating said valves.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of tWoWitnesses, this 7th day of October, 1912.

EMIL ANDERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

